Saturday chat: Doc hopes for more mastery of Mets

Roy Halladay (3-1, 2.41) tries for his sixth win in six starts against the Mets when the Phillies host a 1:10 Saturday matinee at Citizens Bank Park. Left-hander Jonathon Niese (1-3, 5.10) goes for the Mets. Discussion points: What do you think of Vance Worley's Major League prospects after Friday's six-inning shutout? How does the bullpen picture play out once guys return from the disabled list? And has the offense regained your confidence?

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Comments

[GTown_Dave]

MG: Funny how MLB & the Braves are (apparently) so concerned w/ the conduct of McDowell & Lowe, but they seemed as if they couldn't care less what ol' Bobby Cocks was doing to his wife.

[CJ]

MG: My guess? He's young. And the closer for the first time. I doubt this means much... although he got his first K today in his last 5 outings. Which is weird. McDowell may bring a level of comfort however.

[krukker]

It's commendable to dress in bizarre fashion if it's for charity, but how does it raise money? Honest question.

[CJ]

krukker: Designed to draw awareness to a cause... also uses social media for a call to action.

[EastFallowfield]

T-Mac supposedly one of the nicest guys ever, so probably not so bad living next door to him, as long as you have good soundproofing.

[krukker]

Guess it worked then if it's a topic of conversation here. Good for him.

[GTown_Dave]

"Awareness" is entirely overrated. If it actually raises money &/or draws folks to helping in some tangible way, good for Rosenthal.

[MG]

Jack - I had no idea. A guy doing something for a worthy chartity and I goof on him. I'm the dick.

[Gsl]

G_town: Rosenthal says what McDowell did was not as bad as Rocker because it was in the heat of the moment?

Simulating anal sex with a baseball bat is something that you do in the heat of the moment?

[CJ]

Braves lose again. They finish April a whopping 7 games behind the Phils in the loss column.

[Jack]

Gsl: I actually think what McDowell did is worse.

Two reasons. One is that, and this might be in dispute, I think we should probably have a higher standard for coach conduct as opposed to player conduct. Players are often 22-year olds who, realistically, are not usually the most worldly and sophisticated of characters. Coaches are older and are specifically put in a position of responsibility--that's their job.

The second reason is that McDowell's actions were interacting with a fan from the field of play. There's supposed to be a wall there between the field and fans (metaphorically speaking). Ask David Stern and the NBA what happens when the interaction between players and coaches and fans goes too far and that wall is broken down. It's terrible.

[Jack]

CJ: When the Phillies were 7 games out last year, you kept telling us that it was far from over (and you were absolutely right). I presume you stay consistent here, right?

[Gsl]

Jack: The other thing is that his offenses are multiple. Not only did he make homophobic comments, but he made the crude gestures. And if that wasn't enough, he threatened a father with his family.

Either one of those things on their own should be a fireable offense. Its hard to believe someone could be that out of control to do it all in one day.

He does realize that fans are the only reason he has a job right? Talk about biting the hand that feeds you. What an idiot.

[CJ]

Jack: Big difference. We're a better team than they are. We were last year and we are this year.

Of course they're not out of it. But they've spotted 7 losses to a team that generally starts slow and finishes strong.

But I get it... you love the Braves and expect them to win it all again this year, just like last year. I get it.

Of course, if you were consistent, you'd declare the Braves out of it.

[Fatalotti]

What Lowe did is far worse than what McDowell or Rocker did. All McDowell did was offend some people.

Lowe put lives in danger by driving a car under the influence, but that story will get swept under the rug because of McDowell's inconsequential, albeit crude, actions.

[Jack]

Gsl: If I were running a team, yes, I would have fired him.

People have ideas and beliefs that I don't agree with, and there probably a lot of those people in major league baseball locker rooms. That's fine.

But once they express those beliefs in a derogatory way towards fans and threaten a paying customer and his family, yes, I would fire that employee. If I were running that team.

[Jack]

CJ: I never said the Phillies were out of it last year. I just said it was a pretty big hole they had to dig themselves out of. Which it was. Trading for Oswalt, getting healthy, and having the Braves lose Prado and Chipper to injuries all helped them dig out of the hole.

The Braves also will have a big hole to dig out of. I don't think they will, but I also think they are much better than this. My guess is by the end of May (maybe sometime into June), they will be back in front of the Marlins in 2nd place, and the Phillies-Braves will finish in those spots.

[Old Phan]

Yo, new thing

[krukker]

Don't count the Marlins out. They've addressed their biggest problems, which have been the bullpen and defense. Their offense, even without Uggla and with Hanley not contributing, has been pretty good. Their starters are very good. I expect they'll be relevant all season.